Air-compressor for internal-combustion engines.



G. FORNACA.

AIR COMPRESSOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1913.

Patented July 17, 1917.

IIVVENTOI? WITNESSES. B

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sumo ronnaca, or roam, ITALY.

AIR-COMPRESSOR FOR INTERNAL-COMldUSTION ENGINES.

1,233,4ttit),

Application filed February 2.7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, Goroo FoRnAoA, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, Province of Piedmont, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Compressors for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. This invention relates to air compressors for internal combustion engines, and has a specific relation to large engine units such as for ships, wherein it is essential to at all times maintain a supply of compressedair for the operation of the engine, even in case of a break-down of the compressor. According to this invention, duplex air compressors are provided arranged in a plane transverse to the main shaft of the engine, and driven by the engine, the driving connections both from the main shaft to the air compressor pistons and to the corresponding valves being such that either air compressor and its valve can be disconnected without affecting the other air compressor and its valve, so that the run can be continued with only one compressor where necessary. practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing wherein 1 represents the piston of one compressor, 2 that of another compressor,'3, 1 the connecting rods therefor, 7 a'rocker to which rod 4 is connected at 6 and rod 3 at 5. The rocker 7 is mounted in a suitable support, and is oscillated by a link or pitman 8 from crank 9 on the main shaft 10, or a shaft suitably synchronized with the main shaft, by a connection such as a link 20. Also carried by the main shaft is a crank 19 connected by link or pitman 18 to a valve rocker 17 suitably pivoted on a support similar to that for the rocker 7, rocker 17 being connected by links 15 and 16 to balanced slide valves 11, 12 respectively, the timing being efiected by the relative positioning of the cranks 9 and 19. It will be observed that the rockers 7 and 1? balance the respective forces required to operate the pistons and valves of the two compressors, so that the engine as a whole is not thrown out of balance. In the diagram the main engine is represented by cylinder 21, connecting rod by 22, the piston by 23 and the air inlet by 24. 25 is an air storage tank which is connected by pipe 26 and branches 2?, 28 to the respective valves 11 and 12. 29 are check valves which open to- Specificatioh of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1'7, 1917.

Serial No. 750,963

ward the. reservoir 25, and thereby prevent escape of pressure. 30 is an inlet valve for liquid fuel, preferably contained within the air lnlet 24 and controlled by suitable valves not necessary to be particularly described herein, as the same are well known, for example, in connection with liquid fuel twocycle combustion engines.

If, for example, the compressor 1 should be damaged, by disconnecting the rods 3 and 15 it is possible to continue the operation of compressor 2 with slide valve 12 by means of the rockers 7 and 17 and the rods 4 and 16; while if the compressor 2 should be damaged the rods 4: and 16 would be disconnected permitting the compressor 1 still to be operated by means of rod 3 and distributing valve 11 by means of rod 15. It will be thus seen that according to this invention, a single crank operates two compressor pistons, and also that a single crank operates the mechanical valves of two compressors. Of course, the invention is not restricted to the use of the mechanically operated valves, as it is well known that the A. check valves can be used where desired,

but it is advantageous in machines of this character to employ mechanically actuated valves.

Various modifications and changes in the specific details and arrangements herein described may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I declare as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A propulsion system comprising the combination of an internal combustion engine utilizing compressed air to form the con'ibustible mixture, a propeller shaft driven by said engine, a plurality of air compressors each having a movable element and waive mechanism. means leading the compressed air from said compressors to said engine, and driving connections between said engine and said compressors including a single balanced member for actuating the movable elements of all of said compressors and a separate balanced member for moving all of said valve mechanisms in proper timed relation to the movable elements, whereby said compressors will alternately deliver air to the combustion chamber of said engine during a predetermined cyclic movement of said engine.

2. A propulsion system comprising the combination ofan internal combustion engine utilizing compressed air to form the combustible mixture, a propeller shaft driven by said engine, a plurality of air compressors each having a movable element and valve mechanism, means leading the compressed air from said compressors to said engine, and driving connections between said engine and said compressors including a rock shaft for actuating the movable elements of said compressors, and a separate rock shaft for moving said valve mechanism in proper timed relation to the movable elements, so that certain of said compressors will operate in opposite cycles, whereby said compressors will alternately deliver air to the combustion chamber of said engine during a predetermined cyclic movement of said engine.

3. A propulsion system comprising the combination of an internal combustion engine utilizing compressed air to form the combustible mixture, a propeller shaft ing each of said driven by said engine, a plurality of air compressors each having a movable element and valve mechanism, means leading the compressed air from said compressors to said engine, and driving connections between said engine and said compressors including a rock shaft for actuating the movable elements of said compressors, a separate rock shaft for moving said valve mechanism in proper timed relation to the movable elements, so that certain of said compressors will operate in opposite cycles, and a single shaft carrying cranks for rockrock shafts, whereby the relative timing of the compressors and engine is controlled by the adjustment of said cranks.

In testimony whereof I afiix ture in presence of two witnesses.

' GUIDO FORNACA.

my signa- Witnesses:

JOCELYN GOUBEYRAN, CHIo'ro ANToNINI. 

